What to do in Bologna with children, what to visit and where to go to thrill the little ones, entertain them and intrigue them even in the city of the two towers, read the post.
“Not a single child is lost in the center of Bologna” said Lucio Dalla in one of his famous songs. And it is true. If I had to think of a 'big' city really within reach of man, and of a child, I would think of Bologna.
There are many activities to do and will appeal to young and old, because the Emilian capital is a place full of history, legends and curiosities to see and be told.
Let's start with Piazza Maggiore with its splendid Re Enzo Palace, children will go crazy for its history, which starts in 1244 when it was built as an extension of the Podestà's building, and links its legends to King Enzo of Sardinia who was imprisoned here for most of his life and until his death .
A curiosity that children will surely like will be the Portico of the Podestà, which is located under the palace, right in the center of the building, under the Torre dell'Arengo. Its incredible cross vaults are able to transmit the sounds from one end to the other, without passing through this sound any in the remaining space. In this way you can talk to each other, even in a very low voice, from the four opposite corners of the vault, without the other passersby hearing you.
Instead, right in front of the beautiful palace you will have the opportunity to bring your children to the Sala Borsa, inaugurated in 2001 and today an important cultural space within the ancient seat of the Municipality. Inside you will be able to see, thanks to parts of the transparent glass flooring, the archaeological excavations with traces of public and religious buildings, the foundations of the Roman basilica, surrounding walls and ornamental tanks. Inside the library there are also creative workshops for children.
Moving not far away, you will absolutely have to take your children to see the famous ones Two towers. First from below obviously, so that they will be surprised at how crooked they are and how strange it seems that they stand like this with all their bulk.
Legend has it that it was one challenge between two families (the Asinelli and the Garisenda, hence the names of the towers) to lead to the construction of the two towers, with the aim of creating the tallest of all the Bolognese towers. And, as you can see today, the Garisenda lost the challenge due to subsidence in the ground below. And then you can take them to the top of the Asinelli Tower, it will be an immersion in the Middle Ages to climb that spiral staircase that leads to the top of the tower.
And then the view will be surprising, you can make them feel like ancient archers who guard the city. They will be able to observe the many towers of the city and you can tell them that once there were many more, over 100 towers guarded Bologna from above.
Another curiosity that children will surely like is the Window of Via Piella, a small street parallel to Via Indipendenza, which looks like any street and the same as all the others, but it is not. You will only have to cross the Torresotto della via, just before the intersection with via Marsala, on the right, and you will come to a curious when unexpected wooden window which, once opened, will allow you to take a look at the Canale delle Moline.
This unexpected glimpse is also famous in Bologna as "the little Venice", for the stream that overlooks the palaces, making a tortuous path between the houses. It is one of the few stretches of water that were not covered in the first half of the 900th century in the Bologna city.
Finally, do not miss to visit theArchiginnasio, today the municipal library and once the seat of the oldest university in the world and, inside, the incredible Anatomical Theater. Built in 1637, it is called a Theater for its characteristic amphitheater shape, and was designed precisely for anatomy lessons and decorated with a series of statues depicting some of the greatest doctors in history.
Bologna will appeal to children of all ages because it is a constant immersion in history.
